ESPANOL CLICAR AQUI: Matando los suenos
PORTUGUES CLICAR AQUI: Matando os sonhos
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The first symptom of the process of our killing our dreams is the lack of time. The busiest people I have known in my life always have time enough to do everything. Those who do nothing are always tired and pay no attention to the little amount of work they are required to do. They complain constantly that the day is too short. The truth is, they are afraid to fight the Good Fight.
The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life. We look beyond the walls of our day-to-day existence, and we hear the sound of lances breaking, we smell the dust and the sweat, and we see the great defeats and the fire in the eyes of the warriors. But we never see the delight, the immense delight in the hearts of those who are engaged in the battle. For them, neither victory nor defeat is important; what’s important is only that they are fighting the Good Fight.
And, finally, the third symptom of the passing of our dreams is peace. Life becomes a Sunday afternoon; we ask for nothing grand, and we cease to demand anything more than we are willing to give. In that state, we think of ourselves as being mature; we put aside the fantasies of our youth, and we seek personal and professional achievement. We are surprised when people our age say that they still want this or that out of life. But really, deep in our hearts, we know that what has happened is that we have renounced the battle for our dreams – we have refused to fight the Good Fight.
When we renounce our dreams and find peace, we go through a short period of tranquility. But the dead dreams begin to rot within us and to infect our entire being.
We become cruel to those around us, and then we begin to direct this cruelty against ourselves. That’s when illnesses and psychoses arise. What we sought to avoid in combat – disappointment and defeat – come upon us because of our cowardice.
And one day, the dead, spoiled dreams make it difficult to breathe, and we actually seek death. It’s death that frees us from our certainties, from our work, and from that terrible peace of our Sunday afternoons
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The actual cause of killing our dreams in majority is the 3rd one… the PEACE… people do think that now they are out of the stage of craziness. theres no need to run behind new dreams!!
I’ve read with interest the ongoing debate about the comments about ‘peace’ and whether it is opposed to achieving your dreams. I can only explain why Paulo’s thoughts struck such a chord with me. For me the ‘terrible peace of Sunday afternoons’ reminds me of a time not so long ago when I was in a well paid job that I was very good at. I was safe, financially secure and lost count of the number of times I tried to convince myself and others how lucky I was to have a 9-5 job that didn’t keep me awake at night and that I didn’t ‘take home with me’. But the truth was that I hated it, my eyes were dead, I felt hollow inside and I had lost my spark. I didn’t believe in what I was doing. It was a terrible, empty peace. I was very fortunate and got made redundant. I now work for myself in work that challenges me. I am my own boss and I choose whom I work with (people I like and respect, who have integrity and in whose businesses I believe in). Sometimes it feels risky and precarious. I have less money. I don’t know where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing in six months, or even a month. I work part time and in my spare time I work with the homeless. Sometimes it’s scarey, some days are traumatic, most days are inspiring and humbling. I feel alive and am finally being true to myself. This is what I believe is ‘fighting the good fight’. As a result of what I am doing, I feel content but I also feel excited and optimistic about every day because I’m not sure what it’s going to bring. This brings me inner peace. It’s a very different kind of peace. I only truly understood this today when i tried to explain this passage to someone and I finally understood.
i dont think every body kill their dreams but the situations are always dont allow to fullfill it and for that only we always run behind thinking that one day we will fullfill our dreams and for some people who fullfill their dream for them it is like a target once you achieve you dream for another and always we have the sorrow that they have not fullfilled it . i think we should neve r puzzel between that.
Hi Paulo,
Thanks for sharing this again, was a kind of reminder for me.
But I seek help from you.
I always find that first symptom in me!!!
My heart is all ready to take on the Good Fight but why don’t my steps fear, why dont they march, why I keep feeling there is no time to do, I know that actually I am not able to take the first step, I am not able to break the chains and plunge into the cold waters.
I need to study to crack some stupid exams, in the little time I get after my daily schedule after work, but I am never able to do that, I’d find something stupid or interesting or un-important to do.
How to overcome? Please, please help.
Regards,
Mudit Agarwal
beyondthelimits.mudit@gmail.com
This is my present for you. Muita luz, Cris
traduzione italiana
Il primo sintomo del processo del nostro uccidere i nostri sogni è la mancanza di tempo. Le persone più occupate che ho conosciuto nella mia vita hanno sempre abbastanza tempo per fare tutto. Coloro che non fanno nulla sono sempre stanchi e non prestano attenzione alla quantità ‘di lavoro che sono tenuti da fare. Si lamentano continuamente che il giorno è troppo breve. La verità è che hanno paura di combattere la buona battaglia.
Il secondo sintomo della morte dei nostri sogni sta nella nostre certezze. Perché noi non vogliamo vedere la vita come una grande avventura, cominciamo a pensare a noi stessi come saggi e giusti e corretti nel chiedere così poco della vita. Guardiamo oltre le mura della nostra giornata giorno per giorno della nostra esistenza, e si sente il suono di lanze spezzarsi, sentiamo l´odore della polvere e il sudore, e vediamo le grandi sconfitte e il fuoco negli occhi dei guerrieri. Ma non vediamo mai la gioia, la gioia immensa nei cuori di coloro che sono impegnati nella battaglia. Per loro, né vittoria né sconfitta è importante, l’importante è solo che sono impegnati nella Buona Battaglia.
E, infine, il terzo sintomo della scomparsa dei nostri sogni è la pace. La vita diventa una Domenica pomeriggio; non chiediamo nulla di eccezzionale, e smettiamo di chiedere qualcosa di più di quanto siamo disposti a dare. In questo stato, pensiamo a noi stessi come maturi, abbiamo messo da parte le fantasie dei nostri giovani, e noi cerchiamo realizzazione personale e professionale. Siamo sorpresi quando la gente della nostra età dice che vogliono comunque fare questo o quello nella vita. Ma in realtà, nel profondo del nostro cuore, sappiamo che quello che è successo è che abbiamo rinunciato alla battaglia per i nostri sogni – ci siamo rifiutati di combattere la buona battaglia.
Quando rinunciamo ai nostri sogni e troviamo la pace, si attraversa un breve periodo di tranquillità. Ma i sogni morti cominciano a marcire dentro di noi ed a infettare tutto il nostro essere. Diventiamo crudeli con chi ci sta intorno, e poi cominciamo a dirigere questa crudeltà contro noi stessi. Questo è quando le malattie e le psicosi si presentano.Quello che abbiamo cercato di evitare nel combattimento – la delusione e la sconfitta – scenderà su di noi a causa della nostra vigliaccheria.
E un giorno, i sogni rovinati e morti, renderano difficile il respirare perché noi in realtà cerchiamo morte. La morte che ci libera dalle nostre certezze, dal nostro lavoro, e da quella terribile pace della nostra Domenica pomeriggio.
You’ve couraged me to fight for my dreams! I don’t want to kill them – it’s the way to gradually killing yourself!
Me parecio escribir un post hace un rato. Lo han borrado o no ha funcionado bien el blog?
Espero que sea lo segundo.
Un saludo
I can’t say I completely agree with Paulo on this one either. I find one gets bitter and angry at others because we’re trying too hard to live a life that is not meant for us. We become selfish and greedy and keep “fighting” for something that ultimately has us go mad in the process. I liken the condition to Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Is this the price of losing our dreams or running after something that is like a mirage -that ultimately makes us go crazy because we can never truly have it? I believe peace comes when we learn to see things as they are, work towards the greater good by changing what we don’t like, and realize that bringing peace is fighting the good fight – allowing unity among people. If we can do this and still value what we feel passionately about, then we have the recipe to keep going and not burn out.
Lo más hermoso es seguir soñando y vivir en paz.Conservar un espritu de lucha y amor,
Suena agradable caminar y vivir en paz.
Ha sido estupendo leer el texto. He entendido perfectamente su contenido pero no se como ponerlo en practica si quiero reavivar algun suenyo. La rutina ya esta aqui y lo que parece una vida perfecta “para alguien que le gustan los domingos por la tarde” para mi no es mas que la muerte de la aventura de la vida. Deseo volver a ese punto de partida y recuperarme a mi misma. Preciosa lectura.
i need to fight a good fight for my dreams….God please give me the strength to survive and the guidance to win….. :)
Thank you Paulo. Your words are so welcome and help keep on right track. Many a times qhen one takea a developmental step there are so many nay sayers and doubt expressers that it threatens to cloud ones thought. At such times, words such as yours shine bright and dispel all such mist.
after less than 12 hours i have my human biology test .. what i’m doing here ?? am i actually undrstanding what i’m reading ??!!
i don’t no .. but i know that i have a dream .. i dream of DUNKING -basketball – and i’m 164 cm and i have jumpers knee!! however i’ll fight for it :)
Excelente!
With all due respect to Mr. Coelho, while some of what he says here is on target, much of it is ridiculous. Having a peaceful Sunday afternoon is ‘terrible’?
What, are we supposed to work work work 24/7?
Isn’t peace one of the main goals of the spiritual path? Not lethargy or apathy – inner peace. They are two very different things.
‘Lances breaking’? ‘The good fight’? Does he think people need to be constantly fighting in order to be fulfilled? Fighting, even though they don’t get what they wanted (which is often the case)? In my opinion it’s just a way of building more stress inside.
The New Age paradigms have placed huge emphasis on fulfilling our dreams, desires, wants… manifesting this and manifesting that. These things are way overrated, and do not bring permanent satisfaction.
In fact, the reason the masters and great teachers always taught us to free ourselves of our desires, is because desires are actually the cause of stress and dissatisfaction. Look at the lives of Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, and even modern saints – all the masters lived very simple lives. By freeing ourselves of our desires (which, I must admit, is quite a lofty goal), we are always complete and fulfilled, because all our desires have been met!
having a peaceful sunday afternoon is not ridiculous. Living our LIFE like a sunday afternoon is what seemed to be ridiculous. Try reading it over and over again…
I agree, while it is really important to have a sense of purpose in life, it is just as important to find a sense of inner peace.
Without a sense of purpose we can end up wandering aimlessly and suffer from lack of fulfilment. That purpose can be as simple as bringing a positive influence into our world by smiling at people and saying something uplifting to them each day. It all helps to raise planetary consciousness and energy.
The Buddhists talk of releasing the Soul from the suffering of desire. The more we desire, the more we feel lack and unhappiness from what we do not have.
Learning self acceptance and self love (a must before we can apply it to others) and then finding purpose in some form of service to the world and humanity can give people a lot of focus and sense of wellbeing.
One of the most influential people I know is a doorman at a moderate-sized hotel. He sweeps the street out the front and welcomes guests as they come in. He treats that space as his “kingdom” and sphere of influence and has a mission to treat every person who passes through that space like God.
Even people walking past en route to work each day stop to chat with him briefly and start their day feeling uplifted and acknowledged.
He earns very little financially, but his motto is “the God in Me sees the God You”. His attitude helps people recognise their own God within.
What a powerful service! And it continually energises him also.
Very good!
Very good Felix. You’ve nailed it!
Very valid points you got.
just what I needed to ‘hear’
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!!!!
The direction this life has taken me has been one where it took great strength to survive but my fears were what caused so much weakness. I have fought hard for life, looked hard for answers, cried hard for peace. Yet I hid from anger and fear. I gave up my dreams so I could focus on surviving. That decision I feel kept me alive, and God’s love for me. I have a purpose and the path I took brought me to it. I have found peace but am not yet settled into it. It will come. I am living, seeing and hearing the answers. That was achieved because I fought the good fight.
I too feel that at a young age it took so much to survive, that I lost my dreams. Now my Good fight is to slowly find enough room for me so that my dreams dare to come back to me.
This blog entry makes me feel like I am to blame for not persuing my dreams. That I don’t like. I have to go the reverse way to find back my dreams. And in that I do find truth in what is being said.
Mr.Paulo Coelho,
why you don’t convert to Islam ?
I’m sure that if you search about it, you’ll be a Muslim…
Because your heart is Muslim beleave me !
PLEASE , seek more about Allah
Don’t ask any one
Ask the imams… Read the Coran
I’m saying tha because I love you exactly like I love my father <3
i am so glad that u were able to feel allah!! if u did do so, why dont u be a lil more elaborate about what does he feel like. Do u get perks from somebody for converting ppl into islam? ‘So you love Mr. Coelho as a father! wow so thats y the esteemed person gets the benefit of being contacted by a servant of allah!! indeed blessed is Mr. Coelho.
Also he is not supposed to listen to anyone but you and the imams! Man its so wonderful and generous of you to impart this knowledge upon not just Coelho but the entire humanity.
I am saying this because love is the last thing that came to my mind when i read ur comment.
omg… just released that I am death almost….it is so sad….I am only 35….my dream are death for six years ….
I’m in process of killing my dream and I’m just thinking a way to follow it again…I really can’t live happily without a dream and specially the one that my inner calling has constantly been insisted to be followed.
Thats so true ….i too wait for life to end…
Dreams have no expiration date, but that does not mean they have an indefinite shelf life. The trick is to be able to tell whether they are still nutritious, or will make you ill if you continue serving them. When a dream has begun to spoil, some of us build up a tolerance to their noxious side effects, yet they continue to poison the rest of the family or our partners. It’s not a bad idea to replace old dreams occasionally with new ones.
O how that rotten dreams of us infect our lifes and those around us. Never cease being a child and dream. Dreams are hopes and if you loose hope, you loose everything. Shall we not try and revive our own and the dreams of those around us? What a glorious hopefull paradise we will live in! :-)
The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life.
The second symptom of the death of our dreams lies in our certainties. Because we don’t want to see life as a grand adventure, we begin to think of ourselves as wise and fair and correct in asking so little of life.!
My GOd!!! Paulo dear! How you have hit the nail on the head! i have pushed aside my dreams and at times tried to kill them all for the sake of my family’s needs. and today, my dead dreams are pushing me towards the cliff…asking me to take the plunge, either for death or to seize them and prosper. and i have at last embraced my dreams and have found tranquility. my migraines are also reducing!!! You have always been a part of my journey, Paulo and a connect to my inner being. Thank you…. for being you!
The article is wonderful, although I would disagree with the second point. Being peaceful does not necessarily imply lethargy. If the person is at peace with himself, he doesn’t need to fight with any outside elements to achieve his dreams. He easily overcome any obstacles outside because he has already overcome the biggest obstacle that was inside.
Wow Paulo it’s really hard not to identify oneself with what you write. I actually see myself in this post, which i am actually sad to admit.
As the years have passed i have found myself spending less and less time crafting my passion unconsciously and consciously. You really have this
amazing ability to wake one up from a wake-like sleep. Thank your for the
insight..today is a new day..no more killing one’s own spirit..THANK YOU
It has been almost 9 years since I have walked the Camino. And it is true, the Camino gives you a lesson if you trust it. One thing that Camino did to me was to wake me up and it gave me confidence, I never left it and am still walking or following it, hope it lasts. Utrella.
You are such a wise man! This blog just made my day a thousand times better, it makes me sad because this is exactly how I am, it’s like every time you post something is personally for me… Thank you so much!
wow. beautiful.
Beautiful. Wonder if i can revive my dreams. First I must remember what they were..
It happened with me i am could not achieve what i wanted always , and now tym has gone i can’t go back
Great writing…and true words…I am glad that I am fighting the good fight…it has been wonderful that U… Paul… put it all into words…so that I know there are people out there like me…thank you…Blessings…Lyn.
listen i want to be a cricketer but im 18 and already in engineering in one of the Top colleges in India…………..i play it for the fun ………..however we want it to be a profession ……..is it really time for us to quit home and yeah the family is against this idea but look at what we have…………can we get new dream?
I am almost 46 years old and I have never stopped dreaming…I have gone to school, had a prosperous career…and quit everything to pursue my dream of going to art school. I am now teaching and still do my art on the side. If tomorrow comes and I decide to do something else with my life, I will. I will never buy into the idea that I am too old to have dreams…never!
Congratulation!
That’s very nice mr. Gigi… I learned that dreams never die with growing age.. thanx
I raise my hat to this. I wish you more beautiful dreams.
Actually, we don’t need to “ask” for something to manifest it for in the living of our lives we have already asked… And with each moment of asking, we have created the answers and solutions and better and better things. And all this benefits the whole.
For us to taste and have the products of our living, we need to relax, chill out, allow… Live life like it is the peace of a Sunday afternoon… :)
Dream…YES.. pursue them ….YES…. the third paragraph about not taking peace is really stupid…talk to someone raised in a family without peace, you will see how shallow and waxing on in stupidity this paragraph is. A lack of peace can destroy the ability to dream and forces them to focus on survival at a young age.
Agree totally … We can all find peace without renouncing anything x
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